STONE HARBOR, NJ – You don’t see it blasted daily in the news, but whales and dolphins are still dying in record numbers in New Jersey.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center has reported several recent incidents of marine mammals washing ashore in New Jersey, prompting concern among conservationists and the public. These incidents have occurred over the last few days and involve multiple species.
Port Monmouth: An adult female bottlenose dolphin was reported stranded alive on May 10, 2024. Efforts by bystanders to push the dolphin back to sea were initially successful, but the dolphin re-stranded and had to be euthanized due to its condition.
Spring Lake: A bottlenose dolphin was found on May 11, 2024, with the body already in a state of moderate decomposition, indicating it had been deceased for some time before washing ashore.
Stone Harbor: On the same day, a fresh carcass of an adult female common dolphin was discovered, providing researchers an opportunity to possibly gather more insights into the cause of the stranding.
These incidents are part of a troubling pattern, with a total of 11 marine mammals (2 whales, 8 dolphins, 1 porpoise) found stranded near New Jersey since April 29, 2024. Additional reports have emerged from surrounding areas, including Delaware, Long Island, and Massachusetts, where several other whales have been found deceased on beaches over the last two weeks.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center and conservation groups like Save the Dolphins and Whales NJ are seeking public assistance in gathering more information.
They are requesting that anyone with photos or information about these or other marine mammals contact them to aid in their research and efforts to understand and prevent future strandings.
The cause of the whale and dolphin deaths are still considered a mystery by official accounts. Many blame the offshore wind energy projects for the uptick, but that has yet to be proven.